Automatic settling tank



March 1, 1932. J. M MITCHELL 1,843,023

AUTOMATIC sm'mme TANK Filed July 9, 1951 F a n rl 19 a Z 15 g )5 1 5. ,2 5 i 22 Imnentor Gttorneg Patented Mar.'1, "1932-' f MAcnonnLnMrrcHiiLL, on 5mm;

AUTQMATIO snryrmne cl max. 1

" I Ap tncatio m'nu 9,1931. Serial No, 549,761. I

. This invention is directed to apparatus for discharging 'materials held in suspension from'liquids' It has particular reference to a" structure which operates I automatically 5 and continuously to discharge both line. and coarse materials from suspension in liquids;

It has heretofore been contemplated w '15 tank tomove downwardly toropenia valve and thus permit the dischargelof the settled materials, the arrangement being such that When the settled materials have been discharged the tank will move upwardly to close the. valve. It hasalso been proposed to regulate the" discharge of settled materials from a tank inaccordance With variations in level of the liquid in thetank, various' means, such as a float, being provided toe-regulate the valve. 1

The apparatus of the present invention utilizes a novel means and principle of "operation in; effecting the discharge of'lmaterials from a settling tank, and-is deemed to pre-' sent numerous practical advantages over the prior art structures; The'present device'is absolutely automatic in operation and opera ates in a smooth and continuouscyde .to cause the discharge of settledmaterialsrWhen the level ofjthe latter-reaches any desired point in t-he tank. l The. present. device is substane tially foolproof, comprises "relatively [few parts, and may be manufactured at a mini-v mumcost. H v

1 As long as'liquidcontaining materials to besettled out isintroduced from a sourceof supply, it will be appreciated that there. is a circulation or flow. of'fliquid fin the tank;

When none or substantially a small quantity of materials has settled out of suspension, the liquid fromv the sourcevvill flow downs Wardly. As the quantityof material settled increases, the" level thereof will rise, thus decreasing the volumetric1- capacityofthe tank available for the liquid, with the re- 7 To utilize the variationsin velocity and'direotion of flow under changes in level o f'thei osultflthat' the flow of liquid the. source. Q will he deflectedupwardly hy the upper surface ofthe settled magterial and-will; be more directbetween the supply inlet and the liquid v overflow. Flt isproposed to make use vof this change indirection. and velocity of thaliquid flow at afsuit able point inithe-tank f-or ontrollingthe dis harg settled material- It; can be;readily appreciated that: the provisi n: of suit ble means in w nk responsive. tothelbw of; liquid is Well adapted toregulatecthe, discharge of settled materials, inas-; much as such factor ;is 'dependent upon variations in level of thematerials settled.

settled'materials as a means for controlling the discharge valve, I provide a vane-or paddle positioned at a suitable height in the tank on a dependent pivoted support: As the f levelof settled materials rises-in the tank, the flow of liquid from the source of supplywill be deflected more directly against the side of the paddle until finally thepaddleis caused to swing on itsjsupport due tothe velocity or intensity of the liquid, current impinging thereon, To utilize the paddle or vane. for controllingthe discharge from theitank, suit: able connections are made to the discharge valve: so that the paddle-swings-thejdis} charge valve will be opened. It is within; the contemplation of this invention'to effect a mechanical arrangement of links and levers bee tween the paddle and the discharge valve but,

' preferably, in order that the. device may he 1 sensitive andquiok'ly responsive, as soon as the level of settled materials reaches. a pre:

above-described features and characteristics. It will be understood, however, that the detailed features of construction therein shown are not to be taken as limiting the scope of my invention, as the same is capable of a wide range of modification and equivalency with-' out departing from the spirit thereof.

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of a settling tank embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. view in side elevation with portions of the side wall broken away to'illustrate the details of construction; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the'lin 3-3 of Fig. 2. V

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral '10 indicates a settling tank which may be of any desired size or shape and be constructed of any suitable material. Suitable supports such as the standards 11 are provided, the same being of any desired height so as topermit materials discharged from the bottom of the tank to be withdrawn. Settled materials are discharged through an opening 12 controlled by a valve 13. Preferably, such valve discharge is located in the bottom of the tank and, as indicated in Fig. 2, the side walls of the tank may be tapered towards the bottom to facilitate the discharge. Any suitable means, such as 14, may be utilized to permit the introduction of liquids carrying materials in suspension into the tank. Of course, if desired, any suitable pipe or conduit may be substituted. To permit the withdrawal of liquid when the level thereof rises towards the top of the tank, an overflow outlet 15 is provided, the same presumably occupying a position substantially above the bottom of the tank, but below the level of the supply intake.

No claim to novelty is made in the structure so far described as the same is well known in the art. The features of my novel discharge controlwill now be described. Located at asuitable height in the tank is a vane or paddle 16 dependent from a supporting arm 17 which-swings on a suitable pivot 18. In order that the position of the paddle or vane may be adjusted, both vertically and horizontally with respect to the tank, the pivot 18 is preferably positioned on a block 19 provided with i a cross shaped slot 20, and adjustably secured to a panel 21 supported above the tank by suitable means such as frame members 22 and 23. A. thumb screw 24 may be utilized to permit ready adjustment of the block with respect to the paddle. The frame members may be slidably supported on top of the tank to permit the position of the paddleto be adjusted relative to the intake 14 so that the device will function to best advantage.

The paddle 16 is preferably located relatively near the top of the tank, and is positioned preferably at some distance from and facing the supply inlet 14. The proportions of the paddle and theposition thereof will be determined according to the size of the tank, the intensity or rate of flow of the supply through the intake, and the quality of product desired to be settled and discharged.

To prevent undesired movement of the paddle when the level of liquid in the tank is relatively high, but when the level of materials settled has not yet reached a desired height, a shield 25 is provided between the intake and the paddle extending a short distance below the top of the tank. With the arrangement just described, and as indicated in Figure 2, it will be understood that the paddle will occupy a substantially vertical position until the level of material settled rises to a height shortly below the paddle. hen the. level of settled materials has reached a height such as that indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the flow of liquid caused by the continuous introduction from the source of supply will be deflected against the paddle to swing the same upwardly on its pivoted support in the direction of the overflow'15. After the valve in the bottom of the tank has been opened by mechanism now to be described, the level of the settled. materials will,of course,drop and the velocity of flow of liquid will decrease in the region of the paddle and will no longer impinge thereupon. Then the paddle will swing downwardly to substantially the vertical position illustrated.

The discharge valve 13. may be of any desired type and various types of actuating mechanism controlled by the novel arrangementabove described may be utilized in connection therewith. Such valve, as illustrated, maybe conveniently positioned on an arm 26 fulcrumed on a support 27 and balanced by a counter-weight 28. An electro-magnet 29 acting through a connecting rod 30 may be utilized to actuate the'valve. One of the powerlines 31 which supplies electricity to the magnet is pro'videdwith a circuit breaking switch controlled by the paddle or vane mechanism above described. Sucharrangement may conveniently include a contact 32 adapted to'engage a contact 33 positioned on the paddle arm and connected with power line 31. With such arrangement as best shown in Figure 2, the contacts will close to complete the circuit for the electro-magnet when the paddle swings upwardly.

The discharge-control for a settling tank may be utilized for settling all types of materials, inasmuch as it is entirely non-dependcut on the weight of the materials settled but, on the other hand operates in accordance with the level thereof which causes changes in the direction and velocity-of flow of liquid. impinging against he vane. The device is relatively sensitive, fully automatic and smooth in operation. It will be understood that the parts maybeproportionedv and adjusted so that the discharge valve will be actuated when settled materials have risen tled materials, and controlling means for said discharge, said means being responsive to variations in flow of liquid inthe tank under changes in level ofnmaterials settled.

. 2. Ina settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled materials, andcontrolling means for said discharge, said means including a vane responsive to variations in flow 01" liquid in the tank under changes in level of materials settled.

3. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials fromliquids,a. discharge for settled materials, and means immersed in" the tank and being responsive to variations in the intensity of flow of surrounding liquid under changesin level of materials settled for controlling said discharge.

i. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials fromliquids, a discharge for settled materials, and means responsive to variations in the direction of flowof liquid in the tank under changes in level of materials settled for controlling saiddischarge.

5. In a settling tank'for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled materials, a supply inlet, and discharge controlling means, said means including a vane occupying a location in the tank out of line with the normal direction of flow through the inlet and being responslve to varlations in the direction of flow under changes in level of materials settled to actuate said dis- 7 charge.

6. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled materials, a supply inlet, anoverflow outlet,

said inlet or outlet being located substantial ly above the bottom of the tank, and discharge controllingmeans including-a vane immersed in the tank and being operative as the direction of flow of liquid between the inlet and outlet becomes more direct upon rise in level of materials settled. r

7 In a settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled materials, a supply inlet, an overflow outlet, said inlet or outlet being located substantially above the bottom of the tank, and dis; charge controlling means including a vane immersed in the tank and being operative in accordance with variations path of flow of liquid between the inlet and outlet under changes in level of materials settled.

8:. Inasetthng tank-for. separating heavier V materials from liquids, a discharge for: settled in materials, a supply inlet an overflow outlet,

said inlet. or joutlet'beingilooated substantially above: the bottom of the-tank,and discharge controlling meansincluding a vane immersed inthe tank and beingoperative as the displacement; of materials settling; increases to causea more d-ire'ctflow Otdiquid between; the inletandoverflovivr; J I."

:9; In, a. settling tankior'separating heavier materialstrom liquids, a. discharge for settled materlals, a supplyinlet,i an overflow outlet, 1 andzdischargecontrolling means including a vanelocated in the tank between the inlet and outlet and being responsive to. variations in let and outlet.

10. In a settling tank for separating tea-v ienmaterials from liquids, adischargef for settled materials, a. supplyginlet, an overflow outlet saidjinlet and outlet .being located substantially :ab'ovefthe 'bottomvof the tank,

and discharge controlling means; including a vane located in thetank'between, theinle't 3 ier materials fromliquids, a-discharge for settledr-materials,, a supply inlet, and a vane pivotally supporte'dinthe tank and being operative in accordance with variations in the direction of flow of liquid in the tank under changes in level of materials settled for controlling said discharge. y

12. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for the intensityof, flowofliquidbetween the'in- 7 ice I settled-materials, a supplyinlet, and a vane pivotally supported in the tank subject to immerson therein and being responsive to variations 1n the lntensity' of movement of the surrounding l1qu1d to actuate said discharge.

13. In a settling tank for separating heav- I ier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled materials, a' supply inlet, an. overflow outlet, said inlet and outlet being located in spaced relation,and a vane-pivotally supported in the tank between the inlet and outlet and being responsive to variations in the flow of liquid therebetween to actuate thedischarge.

14. In a settling tank for separating heav- -ier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled materials, a supply inlet, and a vane pivotally supported in the tank and responsive to variations in flow of liquid in the tank said vane beingadjustablymounted.

15. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for. settled materials,'a supply inlet, and a vane under changes in level of materials settled,

pivotally supported in the tank and responsive to variations in flow of liquid in thetank under changes in level of materials settled,

,said' vane'being mountedv for adjustment longitudinally 0 he tank. 7

' 16. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a'discharge for settledmaterials, a supply inlet, an overflow outlet, said inlet and outlet being located in spaced relation horizontally of the tank, and discharge controlling means including a vane pivotally supported in the tank between the inlet and outlet and being responsive to variations in flow of liquid therebetvveen, said vane being mounted for adjustment horizontally of thetank. 7 V

17. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled" materials, a supply intake, and a vane of substantial width and small depth pivotally suspended in the tank, said vane being responsiveto variations in the flow of liquid in the tank under changes-in level of materials settled to actuate the discharge.

18. In a settling tank for separating heavier materials from liquids, a discharge for settled materials, a valve controlling said discharge, a supply intake, an electro-magnetic valve actuating means including] an electrical circuit, a switch in said circuit, and meansresponsive to'variations in flow of liquid in the tank-under changes in level of materials settled for operating said switch.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JAMES MACDONALD MITCHELL.

as f 

